Decibel Not Jezebel

The above-stated words, decibel and Jezebel, were the basis of a mischievous operation by the NDC last week. It followed a speech Nana Akufo Addo, NPP’s 2012 flag-bearer, delivered to a gathering in London.

He used the word decibel in reference to the sound generated by the large turnout and their different political persuasions, when he said, “the decibel of the sound from the many people gathered.” It was mischievously changed to “sons of Jezebel”.

The gathering of different people from different parties, he said, was good for the country’s development. What else could a gentleman of Nana’s caliber and political pedigree say at such an occasion?

For those who might wonder why the words could form the basis for such propaganda on the airwaves, the answer is that desperate persons like drowning men would grab at any floating object, even feeble reeds.

In the case under review however, the basis was flawed and could not have succeeded in achieving what the propagandists sought to achieve, which was to present the flag-bearer as an insulting personality who should be despised.

Other persons in their reaction when the shameful material was let out onto the airwaves, wondered whether those behind the mischief could not differentiate between decibel and Jezebel.

Upon hearing a playback of the recorded speech of what he told the London gathering, we have no doubt about the ultimate intention of the mischief-makers.

Someone remarked on one of the radio stations yesterday that Nana Akufo Addo should lower his language level so propagandists, in their desperation, do not embarrass themselves the way they did – replacing Decibel with Jezebel. We found that remark outlandish because the learning process is a continuing one and for those who have no knowledge what the word decibel means, resorting to a dictionary would have been the best thing to do.

Given the meaning of the word, Jezebel (a shameless immoral woman), our understanding is that those behind the propaganda sought to give the impression that the flag-bearer was not a gentleman.

We recall a similar attempt at describing him as a man who does not dress well. What a fouled political atmosphere we are in!

We can pity those behind it all for displaying their unpardonable ignorance, increasing by so doing the level of polarization of the Ghanaian society.

Coincidentally, last week, representatives of political parties retreated to the Eastern Regional capital to review this mawkish development in our body-politic.

The mordant language and machinations emanate from a particular side of the political divide which compels us to sometimes wonder whether it is not part of a grand design to muddy our political waters.

We stand to gain when some decency is brought to bear upon politics in this country of ours. The use of Jezebel to cause disaffection did not fly and so would other mischievous efforts fail.

Source: Editorial (d-Guide)